Umbrella for bicycles.



N0. 639,'634. Patented Dec. I9, |899.

G VALIANT UMBRELLA FOR BICYCLES.

(Application led Apr. B, 1898.)

Inv/anton SPf.

Minas/S a. 5 @S/MW.

lAi.

NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

GEORGE VALIANT, OF TORONTO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO MEROY l/VESTON, OF SAME PLACE, AND WILLIAM MITOHINER PENTELOW, OF LONDON,

CANADA.

UMBRELLA FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,634, dated December 19, 1899.

Application filed April 8, 1898. Serial No. 676.905. (No model.)

To LH whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE VALIANT, gentleman, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bicycle-umbrellas; and the object of the inf vention is to design a form of umbrella capable of convenient attachment to a bicycle which will offer a minimum resistance to the wind, which will not be in the way, and which may be adjusted to any desired position when open and may be folded in compact shape when closed and carried on the bicycle; and it consists, essentially, of an umbrella formed in substantially oval shape with longitudinal :ribs and collapsible and foldable laterally by means of an extension-gate, such umbrella being supported on the top of arms provided with means for lateral and up-and-down movements, such arms being held in the top of a suitable telescopic standard, which is secured on the top bar of the saddle-post of the bicycle, as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure l is a perspective view of a bicycle provided with my improved umbrella. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the standard and arms and mechanism for adjusting the same. Eig. 2a is a detail of the operating pinion and spindle for the quadrant. Fig. 3 is a plan view lookin g from the bottom of the umbrella. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the umbrella on the line x y, Eig. 3.

In the drawings like letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A is the saddle-post of the bicycle, and A the top bar thereof.

B is the saddle, B the sleeve by which it is secured on the top bar A', and b a set-screw for holding the sleeve in any desired position upon the bar A. The sleeve B is made slightly loose for the top bar A.

C is a standard for the umbrella, which is provided with a bottom elbow O', made, preferably, of D-tubing and having a narrowed extension-tail c, arc-shaped in cross-section. The elbow O' fits uopn the top bar A', and

the tail c fits within the sleeve B, which is of course clamped upon the bar A by means of the setscrew b, thereby securely holding the tail c in position and the standard O in an upright position.

O2 is one length of the standard, which telescopically tits Within the top of the elbow C. The upper endof the elbow O is provided with a slit c', and the length C2 is also provided with a slit c2.

D D are clamps provided with a projecting lug d, through which extends a bolt d', pro'- vided with nuts cl2. By means of the bolts and nuts d and cl2, respectively, the clamps maybe loosened or tightened, so as to securely hold the bottom length C2 in any position to which it may be elevated in the elbow or the top length C3 into any position it maybe elevated to in the length C2.

In the top of the length is fitted the reduced lower end e of the jaw E.

F is a quadrant pivoted on the cross-pin f within the jaws, and E is a dovetailed groove formed in the top of the quadrant and provided with end stop-blocks f'f'.

f2 f2 are two pairs of jaws situated to the rear ofthe quadrant, one pair at each side of the groove F.

G G are arms pivotally held between the jaws f2.

f3 is a dovetail-shaped block fitting and longitudinally movable within the groove F'.

H H are bars pivotally connected to the arms G and to the pin f4, which extends into the block f 3.

h is a notch made in one bar H, and h' is a spring-finger with turned-up end secured to the other bar. In the position shown in the drawings, which is the position when the bars are spread out and the umbrella also spread, the turned-up end of the finger h extends into the notch h of the opposite bar, and thereby prevents any tendency of the arms moving inwardly and the umbrella collapsing. It is of course necessary to remove Ithe turned-up end of the finger h' from the notch 7L to draw the arms G together and collapse the umbrella.

I I are the outermost longitudinal ribs of the umbrella, I the central longitudinal rib, and I2 the intermediate longitudinal ribs.

IOO

The ribs I and I2 are looped at each end and connected to a suitably-formed loop at the ends of the central rib I'.

t', i', and t2 are sleeves secured centrally of the length of the ribs I, I', and I2, respectively.

J is a collapsible and expansible gate composed of the pivotally connected crossed spring-bars j. The form of such gate is of course commonly known. The center pivots of the barsof the gate are pins 2, projecting from the sleeves fi, i', and i2, respectively. The ends of the central cross-bars of the gate are connected by the bars .3 3 to the end loop` I3, formed in the end of the central rod I'. The outer sleeves `Z have formed on them at their outer sides pins et, which are threaded and extend through the holes 5 in the fiat free end g of the arm G. Thu mb-nuts 6 are screwed onto the ends outside of the fiat ends g of the arms, so as to securely hold and clamp the side ribs of the umbrella to the ends of the arm.

K is the cover of the umbrella, which is suitably fastened to the ribs.

W'hen the umbrella is opened, in order to adjust the angle of the umbrellathat is to say, depress it at the front or rear, as may be desired-I provide a pinion L,which is secu red on a pin Z and meshes with the toothed quadrant. The pin Z is journaled in the jaw E and is provided with a knurled end knob Z. The pin is for the major portion round, and the opposite end Z2 is round; but next the end Z2 is a square portion Z3. (See Fig. 2.) In Fig. 2 the pinion is shown in operative connection with the quadrant and is held so against the tension of the spiral spring Z, extending between the pinion and one of the members of the jaw E. When the knob is released by the hand after turning the pinion to bring the quadrant, and consequently the arms G, to the position necessary to give the desired angle to the umbrella, the pin Z is caused to iiy back by the spring Z4, so that the square portion of the pin will pass into the square hole e' in the opposite member of the jaw. It will thus be seen that the position to which the quadrant is swung, and consequently the position of the umbrella, will be securely maintained.

In order to raise the umbrella as to height, it is simply necessary to adjust the telescopic parts of the standards, as hereinbeiore premised.

To collapse the umbrella, it is simply necessary to release the spring-ti nger 7L from the notch 7L in the opposite bar I-I, so as to break the joint, and pull upon the end loops I3 of the umbrella, when such ribs will be brought together, as also the arms G. The quadrant F may be released from the pinion by turning it and such quadrant upwardly, so as to throw the outer ends of the arms G downwardly into juxtaposition to the sides of the standard, thereby also bringing down the now folded umbrella.

In such an umbrella as I describe it will readily be seen that being of oblong form and substantially oval in shape it will present but a minimum surface resistance to the wind as the bicycle is moved forward. It is Very simply adjusted to any desired angle, can be raised and collapsed simply, and when collapsed, being in compact form, can be readily secured to either the reach or rear standard of the bicycle, as may be preferred, without interfering with the rider and without adding any appreciable weight to the machine.

That I cla-im as my invention isl. An umbrella or canopy for Vehicles comprising a plurality of straight spring longitudinal ribs adapted to lie straight and parallel with each other when closed, suitable means for connecting the ends of the ribs at each end yieldingly together, and means for causing the yieldingly connected opposite ends of the umbrella to approach each other whereby both the side and remaining ribs are forced into arched form as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an umbrella for vehicles comprising a plurality of straight spring longitudinal ribs adapted to lie straight and parallel with each other when closed, suitable means for connecting the ends of the ribs at each end yieldingly together, means for drawing the opposite ends of the ribs toward each other to open and close the umbrella and forholding such ribs in canopy form when open and a suitable cover therefor as and for the purpose specified.

3. In an umbrella for vehicles, a pair of arms connected at the top at each side of the umbrella and pivoted at the lower or rear end on the top ofthe standard and means for locking the arms to any degree of spread or angle as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a Vehicle-umbrella, the combination with an umbrella-frame adapted to be spread out from the sides into an arch or canopy form from conned ends, of supporting-arms pivotally connected midway of the center ot' the side ribs of the umbrella and adapted to be clamped at the pivot-point to preserve the angle at which the umbrella is set, the standard and means for adjustably connecting the rear ends of the arm to the standard as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a Vehicle-umbrella, the combination with an umbrella-frame adapted to be spread out from the sides into an arch or canopy form vfrom confined ends, of supporting-arms connected intermediate of the length of the side ribs of the umbrella and forming an upwardly-extending forked extension to the top of the standard capable of being spread apart or drawn together at the upper ends to open or close the umbrella as and for the purpose specified.

G. In an umbrella for vehicles a pair of arms connected at the top at each side of the umbrella and pivoted at the lower rear end at the top of the standard, so as to form folding hinges whereby the arms may be swung par- IOO IlO

allel with the standard and the umbrella when collapsed parallel with both the standard and the closed arms as and for the purpose specified.

7. An umbrella-frame comprising a plurality of spring-ribs, arms supporting the same intermediate of the length of the frame, a quadrantal tilting device connected to the arms and jaws secured to the standard between which such tilting device is held, substantially as described.A

S. An umbrella for vehicles comprising the longitudinal straight sprin g-ribs suitably connected together at a common point at each end, a cover therefor, the supporting and controlling arms connected to the two outside ribs intermediate of their length and designed when adjusted to hold the umbrella in a closed or open position, substantially as described.

`9. An umbrella for vehicles lcomprising the longitudinal straight sprin g-ribs suitably connected together at a common point at each end, a cover therefor, the supporting-arms connect-ed to the two outside ribs intermediate of their length and designed when adjusted to hold the umbrella in a closed or open position and a supporting controlling means for such arms whereby they may be spread, drawn together or tilted, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a standard suitably secured to the bicycle and having a jaw at the upper end, of the quadrant pivoted in such jaw, means for turning the quadrant, the arms secured to the upper end of the quadrant and the umbrella proper supported in the ends of the arms as and for the purpose specified.

11. The combination with the standard suitably secured to the bicycle and having a jaw at the upper end, of the quadrant pivoted in such jaw, the pin extending through the jaw and provided with a square portion and knob, the pinion onthe pin designed to be brought into mesh with the quadrant, the spring between the pinion and one member of the jaws and the square hole in the opposite member of the jaw designed to receive the square portion of the pin to lock it, the arms secured to the upper rear end ot' the quadrant and the umbrella suitably held in the end of the arms as and for the purpose speciiied.

12. The combination with the standard suitablysecured to the bicycle and having a jaw at the upper end, of the quadrant pivoted in such jaw, means for turning the quadrant, lugs formed at the rear end of the quadrant, the arms pivoted in the lugs, means for holding the ends of the arms apart and collapsing the same and the umbrella proper held in the ends of the arms as and for the purpose specitied.

13. The combination with the standard suitably secured to the bicycle and having a jaw at the upper end, of the quadrant pivoted in such jaw, means for turning the quadrant,

lugs formed at the rear end of the quadrant,

the arms pivoted in the lugs, the dovetail groove formed in the upper side of the quadrant, the block tit-ting in the same, the bars pivotally connected to the arms, the pin extending through their inner ends into the block and a spring on one bar extending into a notch inthe other as and for the purpose specified.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with the umbrella-support,of the umbrella proper comprising the ribs I I2 and central rib I each having a sleeve and provided with looped ends to which are connected the looped ends of the other ribs, the cover for the ribs, the arc-shaped crossed-bar gate pivotally connected to the sleeves on the ribs, and the rods connecting the ends of the center bars of the gate to the end loops of the central rib as and for the purpose specified.

15. In a device of the class described, the

umbrella proper comprising the ribs I I2 and GEORGE vALrANT.

Witnesses: 4

MARGARET VALIANT, MERcY WESTON. 

